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Home My WebLink AboutMISTER MONEY (2057 VERMONT DR.) WTF - PDP - 31-08 - REPORTS - RECOMMENDATION/REPORTPage 6 3. The Project Development Plan complies with all applicable district standards of Section 4.27 of the Land Use Code, Employment District. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the Mister Money (2057 Vermont Drive) Wireless Telecommunications Facility, Project Development Plan - #31-08. Page 5 f. Interference: The proposed facility will not interfere with other types of electronics or wireless providers. If there are problems, the Applicant will be responsible for repairing the equipment; g. Access Roadways: The adjacent parking lot drive aisle is capable of supporting emergency response equipment of the repair equipment and Poudre Fire Authority; h. Foothills and Hogbacks: This proposal is not in or near the foothills; i. Airports and Flight Paths: The proposed monopole is not located near an airport or within a flight path; j. Historic Sites and Structures: The proposed facility is not located on a historic structure, nor is the site located within a historic district; k. Stealth Technology: The facility is designed with a stealth sheath cover for the array which is much less visually intrusive than traditional triangular antenna arrays. A mimic structure was not appropriate in this location. The proposed design has been used successfully elsewhere in Fort Collins. 4. Article 4 — Districts Wireless telecommunication facilities are permitted in the Employment District, subject to an Administrative Hearing. FINDINGS OF FACT I CONCLUSIONS After reviewing the Mister Money (2057 Vermont Drive) Wireless Telecommunications Facility, PDP - #31-08, staff makes the following findings of fact and conclusions: 1. The Project Development Plan complies with all applicable administrative standards contained within Article 2 of the Land Use Code. 2. The Project Development Plan complies with all applicable General Development Standards contained in Article 3 of the Land Use Code. Page 4 v. Land Use Transition: Given that a gradual transition is not possible, the development plan shall to the maximum extent feasible achieve compatibility through compatibility with the rest of the standards of this section, including color and operational standards, which this project has provided for as described below. B. Section 3.8.13, Wireless Telecommunication 1) Location and Co -location [Section 3.8.13 (A) and (B)—The wireless telecommunication equipment is proposed to be ground mounted within the E, Employment District. There are towers in the vicinity associated with Platter River Power Authority. The Applicant made a good faith effort to co -locate with these existing facilities in the vicinity with no success. A letter from P.R.P.A. is attached. If approved, the Applicant may not prevent future telecommunication carriers from further co - locating upon this structure. 2) Standards [Section 3.8.13 (Q— a. Setbacks: The proposed monopole will be set back from Vermont Drive (the north property line) by 12.5 feet and from the east property line by 51.5 feet. The total height of the proposed facility is 60 feet. A future co -location may be placed on this facility, assuming it meets all other standards. b. Wireless Telecommunication Facilities: The proposed monopole will be painted desert tan/beige per staffs recommendation, in order to minimize visual impacts. The equipment at the ground level will be screened by a six-foot solid synthetic stucco wall that matches the existing building's exterior. c. Landscaping: Landscaping around the exterior of the enclosure will be provided. In addition, a missing shade tree along the east property line will be replaced. d. Fencing: As mentioned, a six-foot solid fence, coated in synthetic stucco, will enclose the ground equipment; e. Lighting: There will be one exterior light that will be fully shielded and down -directional. Page 3 3. Article 3 — General Development Standards The Mister Money Wireless Telecommunications Facility complies with the applicable requirements of the Land Use Code, including those located in Division 3, General Standards, with one exception, noted below. A. Section 3.5.1 Building Standards 1) Purpose [Section 3.5.1 (A)] —The purpose of the building standards section is to ensure that the physical and operational characteristics of proposed buildings and uses are compatible when considered within the context of the surrounding area. 2) Color [Section 3.5.1 (F)]—The proposed tower will be painted a desert tan to minimize visual impacts. 3) Building Height Review [Section 3.5.1 (G)]—Special Height Review/Modifications: The section establishes a special review process for buildings or structures which exceed 40 feet in height. The applicant has submitted required photo -simulations which are attached. The proposed wireless facility meets the review standards including: i. Views: The tower is proposed to be located at the northeast corner of the parcel. The only potentially affected views of the foothills would be from the residential neighborhood approximately 300 feet to the north so the proposed tower would not interfere with these views. ii. Light and Shadow: The proposed tower is approximately one foot in diameter and 60 feet tall. Shadows cast from this structure are not substantial enough to have an adverse impact on neighboring properties. iii. Privacy: Since the proposed tower is not habitable, no privacy issues will result. iv. Neighborhood Scale: Though the proposed tower is not similar to the mass and scale of either the office building or fire station, it is compatible with them in that it is within the allowable height for the zone district and incorporates stealth technology so that it is not much more obtrusive than a light pole or other utility pole. Page 2 COMMENTS 1. Background The surrounding zoning and existing land uses are as follows: N: E, Employment; (existing commercial offices) S: E, Employment; (existing commercial offices) E: E, Employment; (Poudre Fire Station #10) W: E, Employment; (existing commercial offices) The federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 restricts municipalities' ability to deny telecommunications equipment installations. A municipality may not deny a wireless facility because it does not want such development in the community or because of concerns about negative health consequences from radiation emitted by wireless facilities. Cities can stipulate in which zone districts wireless facilities are permitted. Fort Collins allows wireless telecommunications facilities only in zone districts which are primarily commercial, industrial or in public open lands. 2. Article 2 — Administration The Mister Money (2057 Vermont Drive) Wireless Telecommunications Facility complies with the applicable requirements of the Land Use Code, including the procedural requirements located in Division 2.2 — Common Development Review Procedures for Development Applications, and Division 2.4 — Project Development Plan. ITEM NO. .i �- MEETING DATE /O - e?D•Q? STAFFT�'p Citv of Fort Collins HEARING OFFICER STAFF REPORT PROJECT: Mister Money (2057 Vermont Drive) Wireless Telecommunications Facility, Project Development Plan - #31-08 APPLICANT: T-Mobile c/o Mr. Steve Warner Reliant Land Services, Inc. 7901 East Lowry Blvd., Suite 300 Denver, CO 80230 OWNER: L and W Properties 2057 Vermont Drive Fort Collins, CO 80525 PROJECT DESCRIPTION: This is a request to construct a Wireless Telecommunications Facility on the property containing the Mister Money office building at 2057 Vermont Drive. This site is located at the southeast corner of Vermont Drive and Eastbrook Drive. The tower would be 60 feet in height. The monopole is considered to be of a stealth design since there is no triangular array of antennas at the top. Rather, the antennas are contained within the tower. The location is directly west of the Poudre Fire Station Number 10. The property is zoned E, Employment which allows wireless telecommunication facilities, subject to a Type One review. RECOMMENDATION: Approval EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Wireless telecommunication facilities are permitted in the Employment District, subject to an Administrative Hearing. This PDP complies with the applicable General Development standards of 3.8.13 and the Zone District standards of the Employment Zone. COMMUNITY PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES 281 N. College Ave. P.O. Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580 (970) 221-6750 PLANNING DEPARTMENT